Janet Jackson Opens Up About Being Pregnant At 50

Nov 10, 2022

As a member of the infamous Jackson family, Janet Jackson is no stranger to the music industry and living her life in the spotlight. She is the youngest child of the Jackson family. While it's clear that Jackson was inspired by her older siblings, she has certainly made a name for herself and paved her own way for her solo career.

Jackson was born on May 16, 1966, and was raised with a love for music. She is known for incorporating elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap and industrial beats into her songs. Many of Jackson's songs also include heartfelt lyrics about important social issues. Not only is Jackson a great singer and songwriter, but she is incredibly talented as a dancer. She even has credits as an actress, really proving just how well-rounded this star is.

The talented woman first began her career with a variety television series called "The Jacksons" back in 1976 and has since catapulted into stardom. She appeared on several other shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Jackson's unique sound and impeccable choreography made her a household name during the 1980s and 1990s as she worked to break barriers. She has since earned a plethora of awards.

Being part of such a famous family and sister to Michael Jackson, dubbed the "King of Pop," it's hardly surprising that Jackson became somewhat of a lightning rod for controversy. Among the most scandalous incidents of her career was her "wardrobe malfunction" during a Superbowl halftime show, after which her career trajectory plunged. While time has since tempered the shock of the incident, Jackson was again the focus of media speculation and criticism when she announced she was pregnant and would have her first child in her 50s.

As a performer, Jackson is no stranger to the public eye and has been met with plenty of praise and recognition but also plenty of backlash and criticism. One of her first bouts of criticism came from her 2004 Super Bowl halftime show alongside Justin Timberlake. During a duet of "Rock Your Body," there was a "wardrobe malfunction," which saw Timberlake remove part of Jackson's bustier, leaving her very exposed. However, most of the negative attention fell on Jackson, resulting in her career going downhill.

In late January 2022, a two-part documentary titled "Janet Jackson" was released, giving viewers insight into Jackson's life as an entertainer and what to expect from her in the future. The documentary even included a snippet of a new song from Jackson titled "Luv I Luv." It also shed light on her third marriage to now ex-husband Wissam Al Mana, executive director of the Al Mana Group. 

Before the pair parted ways, they had a son named Eissa together. In October 2016, she announced she was pregnant. While this should be a period of intense joy for any expecting mother, Jackson was instead bombarded with criticism. This was because she would be delivering the child at the age of 50.

Women often find themselves at the receiving end when it comes to decisions they make that don't necessarily adhere to social conventions. Such was true for Jackson, even though it was clear the music legend was over the moon about her impending bundle of joy, saying in a press statement:

"We thank God for our blessing."

Despite this, the media went to town. Reports began appearing about her pregnancy alongside quotes from pundits and warnings about the risks and dangers of conceiving and delivering a child at such a "mature" age.

Among these thinly-veiled critical reports was an article that appeared in Vogue on October 2016. With little mention of Jackson, the report highlighted how women of "advanced age" could get pregnant, what tools are available for them to conceive, precautions and risks. It ended by stating women in their 40s and 50s can get pregnant "provided they have the means… the mental stamina and fortitude to soldier through rounds of IVF, blood tests, and hormones; and the access to doctors who can provide such services." Other articles also took the same route in their write-ups about Jackson, with many strongly implying the singer either underwent IVF or had frozen her eggs. One fertility clinic even went as far as featuring her in a promotional editorial. 

While media speculation is part and parcel of celebrity life, it's clear Jackson wanted to play no part in it and has never confirmed whether she conceived via IVF. Instead of listening to the masses, Jackson chooses to focus on her own blessings. She was also realistic about the struggles of motherhood.

"It is hard being a working mother. I don't have a nanny. I do it all myself. If my mother did it with nine children, there's no reason I can't. Of course, when I'm working someone watches him, but it's my baby and me. It's not easy at times, but my life has changed. Obviously, my baby comes first," she told Stellar, as reported by Daily Telegraph.

With Eissa now 5, Jackson appears to have settled into her role as a mom. In February 2022, she uploaded a touching birthday post on Instagram in honor of Eissa, captioned, "You're growing up so fast. Such an intelligent beautiful boy. Wishing you a life full of magical moments. You're Mama's Luv."

Don't you think motherhood suits Janet Jackson? Do you think women who have children in their 40s and 50s deserve to be criticized? Let us know, and pass this along to your friends and family, too.